College basketball rankings, Preseason AP Top 25: Gonzaga, UCLA leading the pack

Gonzaga and UCLA headline the Preseason AP Top 25 poll in men’s college basketball.

With men’s college basketball right around the corner, what teams are best equipped to challenge the Gonzaga Bulldogs and the UCLA Bruins this season?

The Associated Press has spoken, as they have revealed the Preseason AP Top 25 Poll for college hoops. While many of the usual suspects find themselves situated somewhere in the top 25, it is interesting as to where they have placed some of the blue-blood programs in the sport. They might be giving underperforming teams from a year ago a bit too much love right out of the gate.

With Gonzaga and UCLA coming at No. 1 and No. 2 respectively, here is how the rest of the top 25 shakes out heading into the college season.

College basketball rankings: Preseason AP Top 25 poll

1. Gonzaga Bulldogs
2. UCLA Bruins
3. Kansas Jayhawks
4. Villanova Wildcats
5. Texas Longhorns
6. Michigan Wolverines
7. Purdue Boilermakers
8. Baylor Bears
9. Duke Blue Devils
10. Kentucky Wildcats
11. Illinois Fighting Illini
12. Memphis Tigers
13. Oregon Ducks
14. Alabama Crimson Tide
15. Houston Cougars
16. Arkansas Razorbacks
17. Ohio State Buckeyes
18. Tennessee Volunteers
19. North Carolina Tar Heels
20. Florida State Seminoles
21. Maryland Terrapins
22. Auburn Tigers
23. St. Bonaventure Bonnies
24. UConn Huskies
25. Virginia Cavaliers

Gonzaga, UCLA, Kansas, Villanova and Texas are the top five. Michigan, Purdue, Baylor, Duke and Kentucky round out the top 10. No. 11 through No. 15 are Illinois, Memphis, Oregon, Alabama and Houston. No. 16 to No. 20 are Arkansas, Ohio State, Tennessee, North Carolina and. Florida State. Maryland, Auburn, St. Bonaventure, UConn and Virginia round out the rest of the top 25 rankings.

While Gonzaga should be No. 1, it is interesting to see the defending national champion Baylor Bears only at No. 8. Then again, they did lose a lot of last year’s championship team. As far as the blue-bloods, Duke and Kentucky were terrible a year ago. So the AP voters are expecting a bounce-back season. UNC is rebuilding a bit under Hubert Davis. And where is Michigan State?

With the college season rapidly approaching, thankfully the AP Poll has arrived to give us content.

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